Category Archives: Tilman Fertitta

Case Bets: Binion’s redux; Dr. Doom; Everybody goes to Caesars

Today’s top story is the rumor, first aired on LasVegasAdvisor.com that Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel will close in July, lock, stock and million-dollar display. This dovetails with an earlier report that a detailed makeover is in the works. So … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 3 Comments

Boyd tightens belt; Detroit defies Ohio threat; Tilman makes a boo-boo

It’s time to pay the piper for Boyd Gaming‘s $1.5 billion takeover of Peninsula Gaming and Boyd employees are the first ones feeling the pinch. Three vice presidents — including 13-year Boyd veteran Dan Stark — and roughly 250 employees … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Boyd tightens belt; Detroit defies Ohio threat; Tilman makes a boo-boo

Pinnacle makes pricey Atlantic City exit; Fertitta’s Downtown mess

A Wall Street Journal story from yesterday evening reports that Pinnacle Entertainment has found a buyer for its 19 acres of Boardwalk land. These were cobbled together at huge cost — $270 million or $14 million an acre — by … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

A Christmas wish list …

For those of us who missed it this year, the best Christmas tradition of which I know. First and most importantly … To you, the reader, who makes this possible, a year of happiness, health and wealth, whether material, intellectual … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dan Gilbert, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wayne F. Newton | 5 Comments

Blackout at the Plaza

S&G has learned — and LVA staffers have confirmed — that all main-stage shows at Tamares Group‘s flagship Plaza Hotel have gone dark until further notice. A promotional appearance by Best Little Whorehouse in Texas cast members at South Point, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta | 4 Comments

Coming, going, gone …

This just in … One weekend of performances of Peepshow was all that Mrs. Ice-T managed to do before fleeing back to New York City, at least temporarily, according to an S&G source. So if you’ve got Peepshow tickets this … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 7 Comments

Wynn comes to Philadelphia … again; Atlantic City: About as expected

Now we know why Steve Wynn was careful to mend fences with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (below) in 2010 when negotiations to take over the doomed Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia project abruptly feel apart and Wynn skipped town. He’s back with … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn comes to Philadelphia … again; Atlantic City: About as expected

Wake up with Loveman; More election aftermath

No sooner were Wall Street analysts uttering serious concerns about a slow post-Sandy recovery for Atlantic City than who should pop up on CBS This Morning but Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, doing damage control … It’s hard to decide … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wake up with Loveman; More election aftermath

Atlantic City open for business

Actually, a few hardy souls — like fearless restaurateur Montgomery Dahm, who was semper fidelis to his fellow citizens — never closed. Add Tun Tavern to your list of must-see stops when you visit Atlantic City. Ditto Ducktown Tavern & … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Environment, Florida, Racinos, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Hurricane Sandy: “It’s going to take years to recover”; ‘Unsafe sex’ at Sands

A natural disaster on the East Coast is fast becoming an industry-wide problem, its effects felt as far afield as Iowa, I kid you not. In light of the total havoc Hurricane Sandy has wrought upon travel, particularly by air, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Nevada disappoints but Atlantic City bombs

If there’s a saving grace to August’s rather glum Nevada gambling win (-3%), it’s that the month ended on a Friday, so there may be some as-yet-unreported slot revenue that will fluff the September results. (That optimism must be offset, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Politics, Racinos, Revel, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Hail, Bill’s!; Trump slump; Back in the fold

In a typically ludicrous Gary Loveman brainstorm, Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is to become — wait for it — Caesars Drai’s. (Yeah, ‘WTF?’ and all that.) Although you’d have to be either masochistic or insane to loan money to … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hail, Bill’s!; Trump slump; Back in the fold

USA Today: The winners (Downtown edition)

Since S&G readers can’t view my big Las Vegas guides (unless you’re sitting at a computer in a Hilton-branded property at this very moment), I thought I’d share with you who made the cut. And the Downtown elect are … … Continue reading

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, George Maloof, Michael Gaughan, Riviera, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 2 Comments

Atlantic City: Revenues up, Seminoles out, Mohegans in

Stick a fork in the Dennis Gomes legacy at Resorts Atlantic City. Son Aaron Gomes is not only leaving but going halfway around the globe, to team up with former Borgata exec Larry Mullin and reboot Jupiters Gold Coast Casino, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Tilman Fertitta, Indian giver; Meet Charles S. Weinberg

When he took over the Golden Nugget and its Laughlin sibling, Landry’s Restaurants CEO Tilman Fertitta quickly developed a reputation among employees as a skinflint and micromanager. Whether or not the micromanagement has gone by the boards as Fertitta’s Nugget-branded … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Mob, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: Revel debuts disappointingly, Mohegan Sun moves in

OK, let’s take a deep breath and remind ourselves that one swallow doesn’t make a spring and one month doesn’t determine history’s verdict on a casino, but there’s only a single word for $2.4 billion Revel‘s first full month of … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Harrah's, history, Pennsylvania, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Loveman heir abdicates; VLTs hit Ohio tomorrow; Wayne’s World II

Shares of Caesars Entertainment sank today on the news that CFO Jonathan Halkyard has quit, taking an equivalent position at NV Energy. Although the latter’s financial outlook is far rosier, with scant long-term debt, its revenue base ($611 million last … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, history, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Loveman heir abdicates; VLTs hit Ohio tomorrow; Wayne’s World II

Revel: Can’t drive 55?; Another setback in Massachusetts

Revel, the new, $2.4 billion casino on the Boardwalk has been conducting a sort of “stealth opening,” conducting a two-month-plus dry run. Along with the stealth opening come what you might call “stealth revenues”: $13 million-plus in its first full … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Polished Nugget, burnished Wynn

In what might be called The Era of Deferred Maintenance, Landry’s Restaurants CEO Tilman Fertitta still believes in spending money to make money. That’s why he poured $150 million into the former Trump Marina and, consequently, the Golden Nugget Atlantic … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Trump Plaza reprieved; Stirrings at Sahara

Good news for Trump Plaza: It’s off the “death watch,” having dramatically reversed its fortunes last year. Although revenues continue to decline, gross operating profit swung from a $2 million loss in 2010 to a nearly $3 million gain last … Continue reading

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Sahara, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments